We anticipated a rollercoaster final game of the season, but goodness, no one could have imagined the dramatic a conclusion we got.
Just as they had against Newco six days earlier, then against Motherwell on Wednesday, Celtic conceded the first goal against Hearts and left their title hopes clinging by a thread. Until that goal in the 43rd minute, Hearts offered little more than resistance, as Celtic struggled to create a chance worthy of the name.
Celtic defend corner kicks with a mix of man-to-man; usually concentrating on the tall players who take up prime positions in front of goal, and zonal; flooding the prime spots in front of goal where players are most likely to score from.
Lawrence Shankland made a run to the back post from a low-risk area and with his run, was able to evade Alistair Johnston. When Viljami Sinisalo came for and missed the cross, Shankland was favourite and finished excellently.
With the middle of the park proving impossible to penetrate, Celtic made their crucial breakthrough down the left. Sebastian Tounekti played-in the overlapping Kieran Tierney, whose cross met the arm of the unfortunate Kyziridis. Referee Don Robertson initially pointed for a corner kick, but within a second changed his mind to award the penalty.
Arne Engels will hit better penalties and not convert them. It is a worry for another day that our competence from the spot does not seem nailed down, for now, none of that mattered as Hearts ‘keeper Schwolow dived over the shot. A delicious twist of irony was added to the equaliser, as it occurred in the fourth minute of four added before the interval, after Hearts players twice required play to stop during the first half for physio treatment.
With Celtic’s ‘Get out of Jail’ card played, Martin O’Neill made the first of his big substitution decisions at halftime. Kelechi Iheanacho always improves Celtic when he comes on. Always. He is by far the best player in Scottish football and with Daizen Maeda moving left, Celtic began to dominate proceedings for the first time in the game.
With Hearts clearly flagging and sitting ever-deeper, the goal always looked like coming, however, I got worried when Martin made his second big substitution decision. As he hooked Auston Trusty for Callum Osmand with 17 minutes of the game left, it indicated the manager was making a gamble he was not entirely comfortable with. This was the first time he had gone three at the back at Celtic – since 2005 anyway – and was a formation I thought we had seen the last of when Wilfried Nancy departed. It clearly played a significant role in our French manager’s downfall.
Osmand had not even featured on the bench in over six months. His appearance as a sub was a surprise in itself. In his career to date, he had played only 94 minutes of senior football across three substitute appearances. You would be forgiven for thinking, ‘Desperate stuff’. But you would be wrong.
Osmand’s final act will take all the headlines but his most telling contribution was his timed run (while over a yard onside) and perfect cross for Daizen Maeda to give Celtic the lead in the 88th minute. For a player dismissed as “Miles off it” by an earlier manager, but championed by Shaun Maloney and the rest of the coaching staff to Martin O’Neill, as soon as Irishman arrived for his first stint in charge this season, Callum was outstanding. We have a genuinely exciting 20-year-old on our hands.
Marcelo Saracchi came on at the same time as Osmand and played a pivotal role in the second Celtic goal, his directness in possession was exactly what was required that late in the game, that late in the season. The script was written for the man of the moment and Daizen Maeda was not about to let the occasion pass.
When he saw Osmand head towards the byline, Daizen moved away from him to create space in which to attack the coming cross. The goal was an instant of ecstasy for Celtic fans worldwide, which was frustrated by a bizarre offside flag which was correctly overruled by VAR. Ecstasy resumed when Don Robertson pointed to the centre spot and I am not sure it will ever end. We may now have to live with being permanently ecstatic.
Sky Sports had its greatest moment since the “Agueroooooooo” goal in2012. Hearts fans distraught at getting to the 88th minute of the final game of the season as champions-elect, only to see their hopes destroyed. Celtic fans, who had not seen their side top of the table since September, now believing, “It’s happening!!” Life in all its joys and tortures was there, beamed around the world for gasping audiences.
All that was left was the most incredible end to a season ever recorded, more so than that 2012 win by Manchester City. There was one minute on the clock when Callum McGregor conceded a free kick 40 yards from the Celtic goal. Derek McInnes told Schwolow to leave his goal and get into the Celtic box. When the resultant kick was knocked out the box, every Celtic player pushed out, seven Hearts players, stood still. That caused the most overwhelming overload you will ever see. Iheanacho, McGregor, James Forrest, the referee and Callum Osmand were all ahead of the nearest Hearts player. It was indeed happening. Celebrating this goal was the most fantastic experience. The outcome was inevitable six seconds before it happened; allowing us the most delicious anticipation of pleasure known to man. You just don’t get this at a football game.
1986, 1988, 1998 and 2017 are the most iconic seasons I have experienced. It’s too early to know if this tops the lot; recency bias, and all that. But today, it feels like it does. We were so low, so often. So many late, late, goals. Behind in our last three games with no space to drop points.
The brilliant game against Newco just over a week ago with one of the greatest goals we have ever seen. The even-more outstanding game against Motherwell, conceding in the 85th minute, then its momentous conclusion. Finally, the Hearts game that won the title. Scoring with literally the last kick of the ball in the final two games of the season – and I don’t recall that happening once before in my Celtic supporting life.
Scottish football outdid itself this season, credit to Falkirk, St Mirren, Hibernian and Motherwell for their playing style, to Newco for their recovery and coming so close after Russell Martin, and, of course, to Hearts. Derek McInnes’ reaction to our entirely-legitimate penalty at Motherwell, or on Saturday, might cloud your judgement on this, but football does things to people. To McInnes, to you and to me.
Most of all, congratulations to Martin O’Neill, his team of winners, to Celtic Football Club and the supporters who inspired them to historic greatness.
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Heard some hun banger on Superscoreboard insist on the tie being replayed due to endgame shenanigans.
Without shred of irony he bleated that ‘sporting integrity is everything’…
Red neck with a blowtorch material.
and ………. there it is ………… what i thought all along.
so why do the council/police anyone with approval not just allow celtic to open and operate a fan zone ?
——————-
Jonathan Geddes
Glasgow and west reporter
Dedicated fanzones in Glasgow for football supporters to celebrate their clubs winning trophies is not possible due to the cost, the city council have said.
The city’s Trongate area saw clashes between Celtic fans and police on Saturday, immediately after the Parkhead side dramatically won the SPFL thanks to a 3-1 win over Hearts.
It was the latest in a string of incidents in the city centre in recent years connected to football fans celebrating success and damaging part of the city in the process.
BBC Scotland News spoke to several businesses who said an organised fan celebration would be beneficial, but the city council insisted any events would need funded by the clubs themselves.
Another day and no doubt another no mark to be dragged out to try and taint our title. The hatred of us off the scale.
Good morning CQN
Another fine day to be a Celt
Celtic Are Champions
Fact !
Good morning all.
Interesting angle I hadn’t considered on Wilfried Nancy and his background from Trusty
https://celticshorts.com/2026/05/auston-trusty-opens-up-on-wilfried-nancys-turbulent-33-day-tenure/
Player of the year?
Has to go to Callum.
While he isn’t getting any younger his first touch, drive, ability to get us out of trouble and incredible leadership make him still the most valuable player in the country by miles.
We are , IMHO, unbelievably lucky to have him.I dread him calling it a day.
P67 has often referred to the risk of giving players of any team an excuse to fail, simply because they’ll take it.
Brilliant quote here from Callum on that issue from the CQN article :-
“ When you find yourself in the position we were in, it’s the individuals in the dressing room who matter, the people around the club, around the building.
We had every excuse under the sun if we really wanted it. As players, we could have just said: ‘It’s not really on us.
But we wanted to take responsibility. We’re Celtic players.
This club demands success, so however you when find yourself in that position, you have to win. That’s been instilled in the dressing room for a long, long time, so it was good that we could show up again on Saturday.”
An Tearmann – question for you. What’s happening at The Celtic Star? I was going to post on Saturday how appropriate it was that their last article on 28 April was all about the spirit of 86……. Then a couple of new articles came up about the Motherwell game – but nothing since.
Any further news?
I would like to see Callum replaced as a #6.
Don’t think it is his position and we could get more from him a little higher up the pitch. A specialist 6 would also give us more discipline in that part of the pitch where we are often played through too easily. Callum natural instinct is to get forward and sometimes leaves a big hole in front of centre backs. A strong 6 stops that and you get the bonus of Callum in more attacking positions.
I also would like to think we can manage his game time a bit better – with a stronger squad that should be possible
Totally agree re CalMac. For me he’s the greatest Celtic player and captain I have ever seen. He has led the club with drive, determination, steel, intelligence and dignity. Never gives up and digs us out of one problem after another. That we scored so many late goals is in many ways down to his irrepressible will to win and the example he shows. I hope he’s doing his coaching badges…
A word too for Keiran Tierney – as I’ve said before, he didn’t leave a team that would be challenging for EPL and CL to hand the title to TFOD or Hearts. His assists have been instrumental.
(I mean agree with long wait is over.) Moisey’s point interesting too – we do need some tackling strength in midfield and not sure Engels provides it.
Geissler is benched according to the radioScotland presenters on the 6 to 9 show, goodlad stiring what MoN said about the pitch scenes at the end of the game, he is always anti Celtic
The new article will be up at noon.
Significant article by the notification.
Dessybhoy,
Goodlad can’t help himself. He never has a good word to say about Celtic.
Just a few days to go before a cup final.
It’s the perfect time to appoint a new manager……
Just keep the board away from Neil in the showers.
Paul The Spark 😂😂😂
Blue Broadcasting Corporation trotting out all their bad lads in succession.
The Smith comment a couple of days ago is a hoot.
“If its a league game they should have points deducted from them … or whatever”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
SUMDAE, DAE SUMHIM ABOOT THESE *****
Saw this game getting highlighted on Sentinel Celts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGnUojcS7AI
Derek stuck about for this one.
SCANIEL
The Celtic Star is now called Celtic shorts
Scaniel on 19th May 2026 8:35 am
An Tearmann – question for you. What’s happening at The Celtic Star? I was going to post on Saturday how appropriate it was that their last article on 28 April was all about the spirit of 86……. Then a couple of new articles came up about the Motherwell game – but nothing since.
Any further news?
HI Scaniel,hope all is good down in the Sanctuary.
The Celtic Star has been sold,the magazine arm,as GDT says there is a new line Celtic Shorts
The book publishing side is still with David and Celtic Star.
Lot o money to be made in fan meeja :-)
Hope you enjoyed Saturday,I am still buzzin madly like when Calum jogged up the pitch.
Priceless memory
HH
Start for next season.Looking at definites.
KT,CCV,Trusty,Scales,AJ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Calmac,Ox,
Jota,Osman,Iheanacho,
Maeda,Hatate,Nygren,McCowwan,Bernardo,Tounetki,Yang,Engels all,?????????????
Looking hopefully to get Sarrachi,Auraho, back.Have I missed anyone?.Not much there.
Quadro,
Yep,they are still hoping for any bolt from the blue to strip away the win.You can imagine them sitting every day on FF waiting for something,anything.Bigoted,stupid ,cretinous,ugly Huns.
Turkeybhoy on 19th May 2026 10:38 am
” Bigoted,stupid ,cretinous,ugly Huns.”
A very reasonable character analysis :-)))
Cheerio for now.
Enjoyed that video of the Kilmarnock supporters celebrating on their pitch. McInnes looked like he was part and parcel of those on the pitch. What an enormous hypocrite.
By the bye, when Radio Scotland interviewed Gordon Smith about Saturday, they introduced him as the former head of the SFA, nothing about being a Rangers player.
Quadro,
Yep,they are still hoping for any bolt from the blue to strip away the win.You can imagine them sitting every day on FF waiting for something,anything.Bigoted,stupid ,cretinous,ugly Huns.
They have a petition on the go to ” Stop the corruption in Scottish football”Allegedly,more than 10,000 signatures.Mass insanity.They would have gone back for extra Kool-Aid,they are that stupid.
Hot Smoked,
Thanks.Personally I thought it was a bit underplayed.
😂😂😂
On FF,they have just checked with AI to see which members of the SFA are Catholics.
I blame Kafflik schools
GDT & AT
Thanks for the info re Celtic Star/Shorts. Glad David has come out of it well. Good Lhad.
All’s well down here – just had a phone call asking to take in two more donkeys…that’ll be 27 now.
Heading for Lisbon on Friday to celebrate on the 25th and hopefully on Saturday too. Hope it’s as good as Rogic’s final when we were last there 🤞
Does anyone know how Jota is progressinng please
kinglubo
Turkey boy
I will be surprised if Ox and Iheanacho are still with us next season – and I would assume that Schmeicel is done so need at least one more goalkeeper.
The rebuild is massive.